Which Shotgun
 

I'm looking for a nice 12 gauge under 300$ i would like it to be a semi auto, but it could be pump. What do you guys recomdend for a beginner? I dont want something that recoils too hard for a 15 year old. I would like it to be semi accurate and peferbly not too heavy. I will be using this for turkey and little bit of deer. Also whats the best choke(for turkey) for the gun?
Thanks alot guys

Edited by - Hunter501 on 02/11/2003 21:39:02

RE: Which Shotgun
 

Even though I own a couple of fine auto shotguns and some expensive over and unders, I' m a little on the old fashion side when it comes to turkeys. A lot of people would shrug their shoulders and laugh but one of my favorite turkey guns is a single shot New England Firearms 12 gauge Pardner with a fixed full choke. It is still a fairly cheap (a little over a $100.00 retail) gun and one doesn' t worry about scratching or dinging it up in the turkey woods. For a 15 year old it would certainly be safe being you have to pull the hammer back before it will fire. However it wouldn' t be what I would consider a good deer gun. Mossberg is offering a combo barrelled pump in the 500 series for around $370.00.



It would be difficult to find a quality new gun for under $300.00. Mossberg does offer a pump gun called a Maverick 88 series that the suggested retail is $250.00 for a 28 inch barrel. I don' t have any experience with these so I can' t vouch for the quality of the Maverick 88.

However if you can stretch a little Mossberg, Remington, and Winchester offer some pumps that are close to that number. I would pick the Mossberg or Remington over the Winchester because I think the slide action is built a little better.

Most of the turkey hunters are using a full choke (the tighter the better, hence so many after market chokes) with their turkey loads (1 1/2-2 oz. loads) and they do pack a wallop. Assuming your just taking close shots (25 yards) I wouldn' t be afraid to use a standard 1 1/4 ounce hunting load. If recoil is an issue with the 15 year old that would help, but usually in the excitement of the moment recoil is not a big deal, it is the practicing that hurts.

Good luck.

RE: Which Shotgun
 

I think the New England Firearms pardner 12ga with full choke would be enough. At our local walmart the gun is priced at about $85.00. Most people will get the more expencive turkey version that shoots a 3-1/2" shell but then they normaly only shoot a 3" shell in it so it' s pretty pointless to spend the extra money.

I wouldn' t get a mossberg. I have one and it' s ok, but when you shoot the slide comes about three quarters of the way which some like, but I don' t.

If you do decide not to get the single shot NEF, I would pick a remington pump. Or a Charles Daily auto. The remington is like a standard to which other shotguns are measured against, and charles daily is comming out with some fair quality products now with good customer sevice.

RE: Which Shotgun
 

Remington 870 Express.

RE: Which Shotgun
 

I THINK FOR THE MONEY YOU HAVE TO SPEND THE REM. 870 WOULD BE YOUR BEST BET.

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RE: Which Shotgun
 

i dont know what a good used 110 or 11-87 goes for but im very happy with my rem. 870.

RE: Which Shotgun
 

I don' t know how prices are in the U.S compared with the U.K , but I bought a browning silver hunter 4 years ago (it was the cheapest semi auto on the market £300) and I have had no trouble with it at all , it' s a working gun and its in the truck or on the quad every day its fire about 10000 rounds and I haven' t had a jam yet and thats using just about every size of load.
A freind of mine has a new bennelli and a browning gold and he has no end of trouble with them jamming.
Hope this is of some interest and it would be good to hear how you guys rate the silver.

stew

RE: Which Shotgun
 

Hi, I have a Mossberg 835 Ulti Mag 12 gauge, 28in. all cammo shotgun, 4 different choke tubes, and I love this gun. This shotgun is so rugged and dependable, shoots 2.75, 3inch and 3 1/2 inch shells and it is all I need. I hunt ducks, deer, hogs, all small game, and turkey.
Swampchopper

RE: Which Shotgun
 

i like the 870 thats a nice gun. you should save some more money and get the rem 1100.

jjo

RE: Which Shotgun
 

I would say the remington 870 express. Its easy to take apart and clean.
Check this gun out at http://www.remington.com/firearms/shotguns/870.htm

RE: Which Shotgun
 

The Mossberg 835 Ulti Mag 12 gauge shotgun.

RE: Which Shotgun
 

Rem. 870 Express

RE: Which Shotgun
 

ditto-870

RE: Which Shotgun
 

Yup......Rem 870Express, had one since they came out, never had a problem with them. Great pump guns, very easy to take apart and clean.

Ron

RE: Which Shotgun
 

Best all around shotguns are hands down the Benelli' s. Pricey, but the best. You can pick up a Benelli Nova pump for a little over $300, that will do everything you want and more. You can get and or make recoil reducers to go into the stock that will tame the big load recoil. They have the 3.5" capacity for turkey and Goose. They are quality built and will take the abuse. Highly recomend them.

I have an 870 and its a good choice, however, I haven' t used it since I got my Benelli' s. It' s now my home defense gun

RE: Which Shotgun
 

Get a Remington 870 in 16 gauge (Sweet 16). Recoil is lighter than any 12 gauge and your son can use this for turkey, deer as well as for other winged game. Heck, you may even be tempted to keep this sweet number for yourself.;)

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RE: Which Shotgun
 

" Sweet Sixteen" was embossed on the side of a Browning Auto..............wasn' t it?

As for an 870 in 16 gauge that would indeed be a nice one, but.................

a) Are these currently being produced?

b) When were they last produced?

c) If not currently being made .....could you find a fella willing to part with one?

Uncle Matt (in IL)

RE: Which Shotgun
 

Welcome to the board, First I have hunted waterfowl very little and never for turkey, but I have a few suggestions/questions.
Do you want a pump or a semi-auto?
I would get a semi-auto--they help absord recoil when shooting 3" mags esp 3 1/2"
Get the gun in camo or at least matte
I would stay away from the 30" , 28" , 24" barrels and go for 26"
I would not get iron sights, even though they would be good for turkey, they would not help for waterfowl and could hinder your sight picture. Rember you aim a turkey gun, like a rifle; but you point a shotgun for wing shooting.
If you wanted better sights than a front bead for turkey, which I would, have the gun drilled and taped for a weaver style base, these are low profile. I would use quick detachable rings abd a nice scope or red dot scope-better for turkey than rifle sights anyway I think.
Even though like I said I have never hunted turkeys, I have a rig like the one I described I use it for coytes, deer, and various winged critters.
I choose a model 870 Matte finish------$240.00---1996 price
Bushnell scope----------------------------$60.00----1996 (before I started buying Leupolds)
Drill and tap weaver base and rings-----$75.00----1996
Mossberg rifled barrel for Rem 870------$99.99----1996
total-----------------------------------------$474.99 ----well I blew the budget which always happens when I go to the gun store. Buy the 870 used and you will come in closer to your buget.

I would add a nice sling and use for both waterfowl, turkey and deer.

check out Charles Daily semi-autos a co-worker bought one for waterfowl and turkey, seems to be a good gun, I don' t remember what he paid, though it was way below a Rem or Win and Browing:D

I re-read your post and I thought you wanted to hunt turkey/waterfowl. Must have had my head you know where. The suggestions I made are still valid for turkey/deer except that you will want a rifled barrel for deer. Which will cost. When I put that set-up I mentioned I also bought a Mossberg rifled barrel for deer. The Mossberg was a lot cheaper than the Rem barrel and works fine. [:-]

RE: Which Shotgun
 

Get the Benelli Nova.